| To make
your dental visit as comfortable as possible, your
dentist may suggest anesthesia to reduce or
eliminate any pain or anxiety that may be related to
your dental treatment. The type of anesthesia
required for any dental procedure depends on the
needs or preferences of the patient.
How do I
know if I'm a candidate for dental anesthesia?
You and your dentist will decide what level of
anesthesia is right for you. Some patients prefer a
higher level of anesthesia than others. Children,
people with special needs, such as mental
retardation, and those with a condition, such as a
dental phobia may require a higher level of
anesthesia. The type of anesthesia administered by
your dentist is more dependent on individual patient
preferences than specific dental procedures.
What are the
levels of dental anesthesia?
Local anesthesia is produced by the application or
injection of a drug to eliminate pain in a specific
area in the mouth. Topical anesthetics are
frequently used by your dentist to numb an area in
preparation for administering an injectable local
anesthetic. Injectable local anesthetics, such as
Lidocaine, numb mouth tissues in a specific area of
your mouth for a short period of time. Your dentist
will probably inject a local anesthetic before
filling cavities, preparing your teeth for crowns,
or for any surgical procedure. Local anesthesia is
the most commonly used form of anesthesia in the
dental office.
Conscious sedation
can be used to help you relax during a dental
procedure. Your dentist may administer an
anti-anxiety agent, such as nitrous oxide, or a
sedative, in combination with a local anesthetic for
pain. During conscious sedation, you will remain
calm during treatment, yet rational and responsive
to speech and touch. Anti-anxiety agents and
sedatives can be administered by mouth, inhalation
or injection.
Deep sedation and
general anesthesia is used for complex procedures
and for patients who have trouble controlling their
movements or need a deeper level of anesthesia
during treatment. During deep sedation you will be
unable to respond appropriately to verbal commands.
During general anesthesia you will be unconscious.
What should
I tell my dentist before receiving anesthesia?
Your dentist needs to know about all the medications
that you are taking, any allergic reactions you've
had to medicines in the past, and your past and
present health conditions. It's important that you
answer your dentist's questions completely and ask
about your concerns. This way your dentist will be
sure to tell you everything you need to know before
receiving treatment. For example, in some cases,
your anesthesia treatment may require that you
suspend certain medications or abstain from eating
or drinking for a period of time before the
treatment.
Is
anesthesia in the dental office safe?
Although taking any medication involves a certain
amount of risk, the drugs that produce anesthesia
are entirely safe when administered by a trained
anesthesia provider. The best thing to do is ask
questions about any procedure that you are not
familiar with. Ask about alternatives, training, the
doctor's commitment to continuing education and the
credentials of other personnel in the dental office
who might be assisting with your treatment. Good
communication between the dentist and the patient is
the best way of insuring safety. |
Dental Surgeons at Southeast Oral Surgery